Wayward Highway 37 Sea Lion Taken To Veterinary Hospital

SONOMA COUNTY - A lost sea lion has been taken to a veterinary hospital for a checkup after it tried to cross state Highway 37 in Sonoma County, disrupting traffic there this morning, a Marine Mammal Center spokeswoman said.

The sea lion was first spotted on Highway 37 near the intersection with state Highway 121 at 9:42 a.m. and was trying to cross the road.

A man got out of his car and chased the sea lion down, according to the CHP.

It was ushered back to the right shoulder and traffic resumed, though the animal kept trying to cross the highway, CHP officials said.

Representatives of the Marin Headlands-based Marine Mammal Center responded to assist and took the sea lion into their care. It was taken to a veterinary hospital and will receive a full examination on Tuesday morning, center spokeswoman Laura Sherr said.

Sherr said it appears the sea lion has been in their care before, but she couldn't immediately say when.

CHP spokesman Andrew Barclay wasn't sure this morning whether the perplexed pinniped was a sea lion or seal, but said the CHP has previously responded to elephant seals crossing the road there.

A pregnant elephant seal, later dubbed "Tolay" by the Marine Mammal Center, backed up traffic in the same area of Highway 37 during two days in late December when it repeatedly tried to cross the roadway.

Also on Patch:

• Wayward Elephant Seal Released At Point Reyes
• 'Determined' Elephant Seal Makes It Her Mission to Cross Highway 37

Another seal was spotted near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in Marin County on Friday afternoon.

Multiple vehicles stopped and apparently ushered the seal back into the Bay.

-Bay Area News, image via CHP Marin